This was intended to be a self-supported effort, but after an offer from a friend to run with me for the first few miles, It become a supported effort. Without those first 6 miles without someone running with me, I'm not sure how it would've panned out. This route had been attempted a number of times, but due to Covid, a chest infection, or the body saying "no, not today" over the past couple of years, I didn't get much further than the first 8 miles.
After my friend left at East Finchley, I carried on. There was a bit of a dip in my self-confidence, but managed to keep the legs turning over as I went through Camden. It was getting around to midday as I made my way through the centre of London and the sun was taking it's toll, especially going through the tall buildings and large crowds of people.
It then became a bit of a discpline of run/walk as the pavement terrain went from flat, to undulation, to flat, to undulation several times, as I made my way from Kennington, through Clapham and Tooting, to Morden and then back up to Kennington. I had run this route before (back in December 2020) before a FKT route was created, but the Battersea Extension hadn't been opened then. I wasn't cherishing the thought of doing another out-and-back after 30-odd miles, but a phone-call from a friend perked my spirits up and the legs kept turning. Time flew by a bit more and after making it to a toilet near Charing Cross, my watch wasn't showing the route or anything. After a couple of minutes of panic, thinking what could've gone wrong, the route and the GPS showed back up; this explains the random line jutting on the route graphic (I certainly didn't fly out to near Greenwich and back!). There was another 'dip' in myself as I journeyed up Tottenham Court Road, but managed bursts of bimbling. Making my through the blender of humanity that is Camden, I got another call from that friend from before, to see how I was faring. Not long after this, I ascended the Hill of Hell from Chalk Farm Station and finishes between Hampstead and Golders Green Station. The end was in sight.
I remembered doing this section in the past, and it flew by. Whether it was because my mind was switched off, whether it was the music or podcast that I was listening to, or the want to get to the end, the next hour and a half ticked over as did my legs. As I became ever increasingly nearer to Edgeware station, i picked up the pace and ran as quick as I could muster until I turned a corner and there it was. It was a long time coming, but It was done.